They're going back.
Almost two years after Courtney Anderson was arrested at the airport in Nigeria, and was subjected to hours of detainment, before being deported back to BC without explanation, she and her dad, Steve Anderson, are going back to Nigeria.
The Wanted Children Foundation needs them.
"We're not finished," said Steve.
"The work hasn't stopped. We still have staff employed. We're still feeding the kids, still caring for the kids. Down there, we've been functioning all the way through."
The Wanted Children Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Courtney in 2006 after she had spent three months on a mission in Nigeria, and had witnessed the desperate needs of the country:
Children without clothes begging for food on the streets, woman walking for hours in search of water, most often dirty water, and a population so corrupt, it was hard to believe anyone trustworthy.
For Courtney, then just 23 years old, she couldn't turn her back on the kids.
The Wanted Children Foundation was created with a mission to provide food, shelter, educational and medical services to those most vulnerable. The organization strives to build a full-functioning orphanage, school and medical facility all on the same property.
But in five years, it's experienced a book load of struggles. They've been swindled by so-called friends, trusted dishonest church officials, and were even threatened.
None of it deterred Courtney.
Instead of wallow in what some might consider a failure, she persevered. From Canada, she
kept the operation running. She continued to employ staff on the ground in Nigeria, continued to raise funds for medical bills, supplies, clothing, food and other necessities, continued to feed the hungry, and champion the cause.
She also continued her own education.
Later this month Courtney will be walking across the commencement stage at Acadia University in Nova Scotia where she will receive her teaching degree. She also has degrees in international relations, political science and history.
All of which will help her and The Wanted Children Foundation succeed, said Steve.
Steve and Courtney will be flying from Nova Scotia to Nigeria on July 29.
Their trip will last three and a half weeks, and will include multiple meetings with tribal chiefs to discuss how the foundation can help the region with things like water, economy, agriculture, etc.. They also hope to start laying the foundation for the school.
Anyone interested in donating to the cause can contact The Wanted Children Foundation at 604-798-4878.
For more information visit the website www.thewantedchildren.com
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